{"id":107573,"date":"2025-01-27T18:47:53","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T17:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/?p=107573"},"modified":"2025-01-28T11:41:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T10:41:17","slug":"pope-the-gospel-never-disappoints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/en\/pope-the-gospel-never-disappoints\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope: The Gospel never disappoints"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThe Gospel is a word of joy, summoning us to mutual acceptance and fellowship, as we make our pilgrim journey towards the Kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pope Francis offered that reminder at Mass in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica on the 6th Sunday of the Word of God, as the Vatican hosts the Jubilee for the World of Communication.<\/p>\n

The theme for this year\u2019s Word of God Sunday is \u201cI Hope in Your Word.\u201d During the Mass, the Pope conferred the ministry of Lector on 40 lay people: 4 from Albania, 3 from Argentina, 5 from Austria, 1 from Bolivia, 4 from Brazil, 5 from the Philippines, 1 from Iceland, 6 from Italy, 5 from Mexico, 1 from Poland, and 5 from Slovenia.<\/p>\n

In his homily, the Pope reflected on the Gospel passage from Luke, in which Jesus reads the Scriptures at the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth.<\/p>\n

He noted that the Word of God Sunday coincides with the Jubilee for Communication, which is the first of the many individual events animating the 2025 Jubilee of Hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus is the living Word in whom all the Scriptures find their fulfilment,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the\u00a0today<\/em>\u00a0of the sacred Liturgy, we are His contemporaries; we too, filled with amazement, open our hearts and minds to listen to Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking off-the-cuff, the Pope said listening and understanding the Scriptures is not enough. Rather, the Word of God must bring us to experience \u201camazement,\u201d so that it may enter our hearts and renew us.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Gospel word of compassion, mercy, light<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Pope Francis went on to reflect on five actions that characterize the mission of Christ, which he said is both unique and universal.
\nJesus, he said, was anointed to \u201cbring good news to the poor,\u201d which is the news that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
\nThe Lord visits His people, added the Pope, and brings the Gospel\u2019s \u201cword of compassion\u201d that urges us to practice charity and forgive the debts of others.
\nSecond, Jesus comes to \u201cproclaim release to the captives,\u201d who are freed by the redeeming power of Christ\u2019s salvation.
\nThe Pope called this Gospel element a \u201cword of mercy,\u201d which calls us to be \u201cpassionate witnesses of peace, solidarity, and reconciliation.
\nThird, Jesus brings \u201crecovery of sight to the blind,\u201d opening our hearts which are often blinded by the allure of power and vanity.
\n\u201cThe Gospel is a word of light, which beckons us to the truth and calls us to bear witness to our faith and to be consistent in its practice,\u201d he said.
\nFourth, Jesus\u2019 mission will \u201clet the oppressed go free,\u201d since the Messiah makes us all brothers and sisters and breaks all forms of bondage.
\nThe Gospel, said the Pope, is a \u201cword of freedom,\u201d which invites each of us to conversion, integrity, and perseverance.
\nFifth, Jesus comes to \u201cproclaim the year of the Lord\u2019s favour,\u201d which corresponds to the Jubilee and God\u2019s offer to regenerate our lives in hope.
\n\u201cThe Gospel is a word of joy, summoning us to mutual acceptance and fellowship, as we make our pilgrim journey towards the Kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

Christians\u2019 mission to evangelize at all times<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Pope Francis said these five actions of Christ fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, which Jesus read in the synagogue in Nazareth.
\nHowever, he noted, Christ\u2019s salvation is not yet fully realized, as we see in the many wars and suffering present in our world.
\n\u201cYet,\u201d he said, \u201cwars, injustice, pain and death will not have the final word over the peoples of the earth and our history: for the Gospel is a living and certain word that never disappoints.\u201d
\nIn conclusion, the Pope invited Christians to thank God for sending His Word, who was made flesh for the salvation of the world.
\n\u201cThe Lord has not spoken to us as silent listeners, but as His witnesses, called to evangelize at all times and in every place,\u201d he said. \u201cLet us commit ourselves to bringing the good news to the poor, proclaiming release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, letting the oppressed go free and announcing the year of the Lord\u2019s favour.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
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* Article published by Vatican News<\/a>. Author: Devin Watkins. Photo: Vatican News<\/em>.<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n
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